Life of a fisherman

A businessman was at the pier of a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The businessman complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

The fisherman replied that it only took a little while. Then the accomplished businessman asked why he had not stayed out longer to catch more fish. The fisherman said that he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.

The gentleman then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I play guitar with my friends. I have a full and busy life, señor."

The businessman scoffed and said, "I am a Wharton MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor - eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to big cities where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The fisherman asked, "But how long will this all take?" To which the businessman replied, "Fifteen or 20 years."

"But what then?"

The businessman laughed and said, "That is the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."

"Millions? Then what?"

The businessman replied, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play your guitar with your friends."